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Xpeng IRON humanoid robot – a lifelike 5'10" android with bionic muscles, flexible skin, and AI brain. Learn its advanced specs and Xpeng’s global plans – read on!
2025/11/06
Imagine a robot so human-like in appearance and movement that people question if there’s a
person inside. That’s exactly the reaction Xpeng’s new IRON humanoid robot sparked when it
debuted – its fluid catwalk-style gait and realistic looks had onlookers wondering if a human was hidden
in the machine 1
. Xpeng, a leading Chinese electric vehicle maker turning into a global “physical AI”
innovator, unveiled “IRON” as the centerpiece of its 2025 AI Day. In this article, we’ll explore what the
Xpeng IRON humanoid robot is, its cutting-edge technical specifications, and how Xpeng plans to
deploy this lifelike android around the world.
What is the Xpeng IRON Humanoid Robot?
The Xpeng IRON is a next-generation humanoid robot – a robot designed to resemble and behave like a
human. First introduced at Xpeng’s 2024 AI Day, the initial IRON stood 178 cm tall and weighed about
70 kg (5’10” and 154 lbs), already close to human proportions 2
. One year later, Xpeng revealed an
even more human-like second-generation IRON at the 2025 AI Day, under the theme “Emergence.”
This advanced model has a distinctly human appearance (the demo unit even had a female form) and
3 4
walked gracefully on stage, demonstrating natural balance and posture .
Xpeng’s move into humanoid robots is part of its broader vision of “Physical AI.” The company –
known for its smart electric cars – has been investing in robotics for 7+ years, starting with quadruped
(four-legged) robots and then pivoting to humanoids as the ultimate form factor 5
. The name “IRON”
symbolizes strength and foundation, and Xpeng positions this robot as a platform to integrate AI into
physical life. In short, IRON is Xpeng’s answer to Tesla’s Optimus and other humanoid bots – but
with its own twist in design philosophy and deployment strategy.
Key Technical Specifications and Features
Xpeng has packed IRON with an array of impressive technical specs and innovations to make it as
human-like and capable as possible. Here are the standout features and specifications of the Xpeng IRON
humanoid robot:
•
•
Size & Weight: Stands about 178 cm tall (5’10”) and weighs roughly 70 kg (154 lbs), about the
size of an adult human 6
. This human-scale build allows IRON to navigate environments built
for people.
Degrees of Freedom: Boasts a complex skeletal structure with over 60 joints and 82 degrees of
freedom throughout its body 7
. This includes 22 degrees of freedom in each hand for fine
8
manipulation , enabling delicate tasks.
1•
Bionic Design: Built with a humanoid spine and “bionic muscles”, allowing natural bending
and flexibility 9
. Its joints (including specially designed small harmonic joints in the hands) give
it human-like agility and a light, gentle stride – even the toe joints have passive flexibility to
10
absorb shock and maintain balance .
• 7
Skin and Face: Covered in a fully flexible soft skin that makes it look and feel more human . A
3D curved display on its head acts as a “face,” capable of displaying expressions and making
the robot appear more personable 11
. The soft skin also houses touch sensors for safety and
interactive feedback.
•
•
•
•
Power Source: Powered by an all-solid-state battery, a cutting-edge battery technology. This
battery is lightweight with high energy density and enhanced safety, meaning IRON can run for
long periods without overheating, and it meets strict safety needs for operating around people
12 13
. Xpeng notably chose to debut solid-state batteries in a robot (rather than a car) to
13
prioritize safety in home and office settings .
AI “Brain” & Chips: Runs on three of Xpeng’s in-house “Turing” AI chips, providing a total
of 2,250–3,000 TOPS (trillions of operations per second) of computing power 14 15
. This
massive on-board computing ability lets IRON process vision, speech, and movement in real time.
The robot’s AI “brain” uses a multi-model architecture combining Vision-Language-Task
(VLT), Vision-Language-Action (VLA), and Vision-Language-Model (VLM) networks – in simpler
terms, IRON can see and understand its surroundings, make decisions, and generate actions
directly without needing constant remote control 16 17
. This unique triple-model system
(adapted from Xpeng’s autonomous driving tech) enables higher autonomy and human-like
responsiveness.
Sensors and Awareness: Equipped with an array of cameras, microphones, and sensors
(including the mentioned touch-sensitive skin and possibly LiDAR or depth cameras, though not
explicitly detailed) to perceive the environment. It can recognize people and objects, localize
itself, and avoid obstacles. In fact, IRON’s AI has been trained on thousands of hours of human
18
movement data to master walking and balancing .
Movement & Balance: Walks at up to 2 m/s (around 6.5 ft/s) and can handle uneven terrain or
crowds with stability 19
. Its gait is remarkably smooth – early demos showed IRON weaving
18
through a crowd and even performing a smooth turn on a catwalk, with no jerky motions .
Such fluid mobility is a huge leap in robotics, achieved by blending advanced AI with muscle-like
mechanical systems instead of relying on rigid pre-programmed steps.
In summary, Xpeng IRON is built to mimic a human’s physique and abilities: it’s tall, agile,
dexterous in the hands, covered in skin, and powered by a smart “brain” and safe battery. These specs
make IRON capable of interacting with human environments in a natural way, from turning door knobs
and picking up objects to walking alongside people.
Lifelike Design Innovations
One of Xpeng IRON’s biggest differentiators is its lifelike design. The philosophy was to create a robot
that is not just functionally capable but also anthropomorphic enough to integrate into human society.
Key design innovations include:
•
•
Humanoid Spine & Bionic Muscles: Unlike many robots with stiff frames, IRON’s backbone and
actuators mimic human vertebrae and muscles 9
. This gives it human-like flexibility – it can
bend, twist, or squat smoothly, allowing it to, say, pick up an item from the floor by bending its
back and knees like a person would. The bionic muscle actuators can dynamically adjust
stiffness, giving IRON both strength and graceful control.
Flexible Skin Covering: Xpeng gave IRON a skin-like covering over its entire body (including the
face). This isn’t just for looks – the full coverage soft skin makes the robot safer in close contact
2•
•
•
with people (no exposed metal edges) and houses tactile sensors for detecting touch 20
. The
visual effect is striking: from a few steps away, IRON’s limbs appear human rather than robotic.
This helped prompt the “is there a human inside?” reactions, as the skin blurs the line between
1
robot and human form .
Expressive Face Display: Instead of a static metal head, IRON’s head features a 3D curved OLED
display that can show eyes, mouth, and other facial expressions 11
. When IRON talks or
responds, its digital face can emote (smile, wink, etc.), making interaction more natural and less
uncanny. This is crucial for roles like customer service or tour guides, where approachability is
key.
Dexterous Hands: Hands are notoriously hard for robots, but IRON’s engineers tackled this with
high-performance miniaturized joints. Each hand has 22 degrees of freedom 8
, meaning IRON
can move individual fingers, rotate its wrist freely, and coordinate complex hand movements. It
can grip both delicate objects and heavier items with control – from holding a pen to lifting a
box. This dexterity opens up a wide range of tasks (think folding laundry or operating tools) that
21
simpler gripper hands can’t do .
Customization (Body Shapes & Gender): Uniquely, Xpeng envisions that future buyers of IRON
could choose different body shapes, sizes, and even the gender appearance of their robot. The
2025 AI Day presentation showed that IRON’s design allows for modular customization – you
could have a taller or shorter build, “a little bit fatter IRON or a slimmer IRON,” and male or
female aesthetics according to preference 22 23
. This is analogous to choosing a car’s
configuration. The idea is to make robots more relatable and “warm” for humans by fitting into
roles with an appropriate look (for example, an IRON robot in a retail store could be styled with a
friendly male or female persona, even wearing industry-specific clothing 24
).
All these design choices underscore Xpeng’s goal: extreme anthropomorphism – making IRON as close
to a human as current technology allows. This isn’t just for wow factor; Xpeng’s CEO He Xiaopeng
25
points out that a human-like form is crucial for learning from and operating in human environments .
A robot shaped like us can use our tools, our spaces, and our routines more effectively. It can also
gather more useful interaction data by behaving like a person, which in turn improves its AI.
AI Brain and Autonomy
Under the hood, Xpeng IRON is powered by some serious AI infrastructure. The company’s background
in self-driving car AI translated directly into IRON’s cognitive systems:
•
•
•
•
VLT, VLA, VLM Models: These stand for Vision-Language-Task, Vision-Language-Action, and
Vision-Language-Model. In simple terms, IRON’s brain is composed of three coordinated AI
models:
VLT (Vision-Language-Task): The “brain” for higher-level decision-making – it interprets visual
inputs and language (commands or conversations) to figure out what task to do 26
. This is akin
to a cognitive layer that decides “What should I do next?” based on what it sees and is told.
VLA (Vision-Language-Action): The real-time control system – originally adapted from Xpeng’s
autonomous driving tech – that converts perceptions into physical actions 27
. For example,
seeing an obstacle and stepping aside, or hearing a voice command and executing a movement. It
has to control 82 joints in the robot’s body simultaneously 27
(far more complex than, say,
steering a car), making this a challenging AI engineering feat.
VLM (Vision-Language-Model): This is more about understanding language and environment
context, a model that likely helps with conversation and comprehension (born from automotive AI
28
models used in Xpeng’s smart EVs) .
3By combining these, IRON achieves a level of autonomy where it can see an object or hear a request,
understand it, and physically respond appropriately – all powered by on-board AI, not a remote
operator 16
. This multi-modal AI approach moves IRON closer to true autonomous behavior rather than
just pre-scripted routines.
•
•
Turing AI Chips: Xpeng developed its own “Turing” AI chips to run these heavy AI models.
IRON carries three Turing chips, giving it an edge in on-board processing. With around 2,250 TOPS
of computing capacity dedicated to vision and motion 29
, IRON can perform instant analysis of
visual and audio data. For instance, it can identify a person speaking to it and generate a verbal
answer while concurrently planning its next step – all in real time. High compute also enables on-
device machine learning; IRON can learn from new experiences on the fly, fine-tuning its
movements or recognizing new objects, much like a human brain forming new connections.
Human-Robot Interaction: Thanks to the AI and sensors, IRON can engage in basic dialogue and
social interaction. Xpeng demonstrated that IRON can answer questions and hold a
conversation with its built-in large language model skills 30
. Its microphone arrays (visible near
where human ears would be) help it pinpoint voices 31
, and its face display helps convey back
responses emotionally. The robot’s AI is also integrated with Xpeng’s voice assistants and
possibly cloud knowledge, so it can provide information or assistance in a public setting. In tests,
IRON has been shown doing tasks like guiding a visitor through an office, acting as a
receptionist, and even gently carrying out chores like folding laundry 21
– showcasing a mix
of physical and conversational intelligence.
Overall, IRON’s “brain” embodies Xpeng’s belief that the future of AI is in physically capable,
smart robots. By endowing IRON with a robust cognitive architecture and hardware, Xpeng is inching
closer to sci-fi-like androids that can understand and participate in our world.
Capabilities: What Can Xpeng IRON Do?
With its human-like form and advanced AI, what is IRON actually capable of doing? Based on
demonstrations and Xpeng’s plans, IRON’s skill set is already quite rich and is expanding rapidly:
•
•
•
Smooth Bipedal Walking: Walking on two legs is notoriously hard for robots, but IRON makes it
look easy. It can walk at a brisk pace (~2 m/s), maintain balance on uneven surfaces, and even
navigate around obstacles or people in its path 19 18
. Videos show IRON gliding through a
crowd without collisions – an impressive feat of real-time planning and balance. Its feet and leg
design absorb shocks like our ankles do, enabling a gentle heel-to-toe stride instead of clunky
robotic steps 19
. This means IRON could walk alongside humans in a hallway or street without
needing special support. For example, it could accompany you carrying your shopping bags,
matching your pace.
Object Handling: Thanks to its dexterous hands and arms, IRON can pick up and manipulate
objects of various sizes. It can grasp delicate items (it has the finesse to hold an egg or a wine
glass) and also handle heavier objects like tools or packages. Xpeng has indicated IRON can
perform tasks like opening doors, carrying boxes, or using basic tools. In one scenario, IRON
was shown picking up and moving boxes as a test of its strength and coordination 32
. With 22
DOF hands, it can even do fine movements like pressing elevator buttons or typing on a keyboard
if needed.
Conversational Assistance: IRON is designed to be a service robot in public or commercial
spaces. It can greet people, respond to inquiries, and provide information. Imagine walking into a
store and an IRON robot approaches with a friendly “Hello, how can I help you today?” It could
4•
•
then guide you to a product, answering questions along the way. Xpeng specifically plans to
deploy IRON as a shopping guide and receptionist, so it’s trained to handle customer service
dialogues 33
. Its AI enables it to understand natural language and respond in multiple languages
(crucial for a global audience). While it’s not a full AI assistant like a chatbot, it has enough
smarts to handle frequently asked questions, give directions, or narrate information about
products and places.
Demonstrations of Skill: To prove IRON’s capabilities, Xpeng’s CEO even shared an unedited
video showing IRON’s finesse: in the video, IRON’s hand details are clearly robotic (with
mechanical fingers moving), and you can hear the faint whir of cooling fans – evidence of the
machine inside 34
. IRON also demonstrated a high-difficulty act for robots: a fluid “model
walk” on stage, complete with turns and pauses. This kind of demonstration highlights balance
and joint coordination; many robots struggle to start, stop, and turn without wobbling, but IRON
pulled it off so smoothly that half the online commenters insisted it must be a human in disguise
35
. Such performance suggests IRON could handle tasks like patrolling a facility or leading a
tour group without tripping or getting stuck.
Everyday Tasks: Xpeng has hinted at IRON’s ability to do basic chores or office tasks. For
example, it can fold laundry (requiring delicate finger control and visual recognition of clothing)
or deliver items within a building 21
. In industrial trials, IRON is being tested to monitor
equipment gauges and detect anomalies (acting as an inspector on the factory floor) 36
. While
it’s not as strong or fast as purpose-built industrial robots, IRON’s strength is versatility – it can
adapt to many roles in human-oriented environments, doing a bit of everything at a reasonable
competency.
It’s important to note that IRON is still improving. Like any new technology, there are limits: for
instance, heavy lifting or very precise manufacturing tasks are not its forte yet. Xpeng tried using the
first-gen IRON in an assembly line to tighten screws, but found it inefficient – the robot’s complex hand
mechanisms would wear out within a month, and a human worker was simply faster and cheaper for that
repetitive task 37
. This revealed that while IRON is extremely advanced, certain demanding jobs
(especially in factories) are still better suited for traditional robots or humans at present. Learning from
this, Xpeng is steering IRON towards tasks that play to its strengths: interaction, adaptability, and
mobility in dynamic environments, rather than brute-force labor.
Deployment Plans and Global Ambitions
Xpeng’s vision for IRON goes beyond a one-off tech demo – they have a clear plan to bring this
humanoid robot into real-world use in the near future, with a focus on global deployment. Here’s
what we know about the rollout roadmap and strategy:
•
•
•
2024 (First-Gen IRON): After unveiling the first IRON in 2024, Xpeng actually integrated some
prototype robots into daily operations at its offices and showrooms 38
. These early units have
been acting as internal guides and experiment platforms. This internal use gave Xpeng valuable
data on how robots perform in practical scenarios (like the screw-tightening test, which shaped
their strategy to pivot away from factory assembly use for now 37
).
2025 AI Day (Next-Gen IRON Launch): In November 2025, Xpeng officially announced the Next-
Gen IRON with all the upgrades discussed (bionic design, better AI, solid-state battery). Crucially,
Xpeng’s CEO He Xiaopeng set a timeline: Mass production preparation starts by April 2026, with
full mass production by end of 2026 39
. This goal aligns with what Xpeng stated earlier in the year
and shows they are serious about scaling up production of IRON robots.
2026 (Initial Deployments): Starting in 2026, IRON will step into public-facing roles. Xpeng is
being strategic about where these first robots will work. Rather than immediately selling IRON to
consumers or deploying in unpredictable home environments, Xpeng will place them in
5•
•
•
•
•
•
controlled commercial settings. Specifically, the first places you might meet IRON are Xpeng’s
own retail stores and showrooms around the world 40
. There, IRON robots will serve as
greeters, product presenters, and customer service aides. For example, if you walk into an Xpeng
auto showroom in 2026, an IRON might approach to show you the latest car model features or
offer you a brochure – creating a high-tech, engaging customer experience. Xpeng believes these
roles are ideal to showcase IRON’s abilities and also relatively low-risk environments (bright,
monitored stores with trained staff around).
Commercial Service Focus: Beyond Xpeng’s stores, the company is targeting places like malls,
airports, museums, and hotels for IRON’s deployment. These are environments where a
humanoid robot can function as a tour guide, shopping assistant, receptionist, or information
kiosk 33
. Such roles leverage IRON’s strengths in interaction and mobility, without pushing it to
dangerous or extremely strenuous tasks. Xpeng explicitly decided not to deploy IRON in
factories or homes initially 41
. Factories often require heavy-duty performance (and as noted,
IRON’s complex hands could wear out quickly on an assembly line), and homes are highly
unstructured environments full of random obstacles (toys on the floor, pets, stairs) which current
AI still struggles to generalize. By avoiding these for now, Xpeng is playing it safe and smart –
they want IRON to succeed in easier domains first and build reliability and public trust.
Global Reach: Although Xpeng is a Chinese company, they are branding themselves now as a
“global embodied intelligence” company 42
, and IRON is very much part of their global
strategy. The plan is to roll out IRON robots not just in China but in Xpeng’s international
markets. Xpeng already has a presence in Europe and other regions, and they’ve said “next
year, expect to see IRON in Xpeng stores across the world.” 43
. This global targeting is a big
reason they focus on multilingual interaction and a universally appealing design for IRON. It’s
also why Xpeng emphasizes cross-cultural “warmth” in the robot’s design (like offering
gender customization and expressive faces) – they want IRON to be embraced by people in
different countries as a helpful, friendly entity, not a cold machine.
Partnerships and Ecosystem: To accelerate real-world adoption, Xpeng is partnering with other
companies and opening up IRON’s platform:
Baosteel Partnership: One of the first announced partners is Baoshan Iron & Steel (Baosteel), a
major steel producer. Baosteel will deploy IRON robots in its facilities to test use cases like
equipment inspection and monitoring in industrial settings 36
. This partnership is mutually
beneficial: Xpeng gets to refine IRON in a tough industrial environment (learning what breaks or
what software improvements are needed), and Baosteel gets early access to cutting-edge robotics
for their smart factory initiatives. It’s telling that a steel company is interested – they likely see
IRON as a future inspector that can roam the plant checking for issues (heat, leaks, etc.) in ways
fixed sensors can’t.
Open SDK for Developers: Xpeng is releasing an IRON SDK (Software Development Kit) to
invite global developers to build applications on the robot 44
. This is a major step to create an
ecosystem around IRON. By opening the platform, Xpeng hopes third-party developers will come
up with novel apps and skills for IRON – from custom animations and games to integrations with
enterprise systems. This approach contrasts with more closed competitors; it shows Xpeng wants
IRON to be a flexible platform (like a smartphone with apps) rather than a single-purpose device.
In the long run, a rich app ecosystem could greatly increase IRON’s usefulness, as community-
45
driven innovation will expand what the robot can do beyond Xpeng’s own plans .
Compliance and Safety: Xpeng is also proactively addressing ethical and safety considerations.
IRON’s operating system abides by the classic Three Laws of Robotics (not harming humans,
obeying orders, self-protection) and Xpeng has even added a “Fourth Law” about privacy –
explicitly programming IRON to ensure that “robots cannot disclose any human privacy.” 46
. In
practical terms, this means data IRON collects (like camera footage or conversations) is kept
secure on the robot and not shared inappropriately. This focus on privacy is crucial for global
6deployment, as different countries have strict regulations on data and surveillance. By baking
privacy into the robot’s rules, Xpeng is trying to make IRON trustworthy as it interacts with the
public.
• 47
Mass Production by 2026: Xpeng is aiming to mass-produce IRON at scale by end of 2026
48
. “Mass production” suggests they intend to manufacture large numbers of these
humanoids (potentially thousands). Xpeng’s advantage is that, as an automaker, they have
experience in large-scale production and supply chains. They’re likely applying automotive
production techniques to robotics – in fact, Xpeng’s chairman believes their full-stack
development (chips, AI, hardware all in-house) and shared technology with EVs will let them bring
costs down and ramp up volume faster than startups or labs could 49
. By late 2026 or 2027, we
could see IRON robots not just in Xpeng stores, but possibly being sold or leased to other
businesses globally. Xpeng’s cautious statements imply they don’t expect to flood the
consumer market immediately, but rather fill specific niches first. Over time, as AI improves and
costs come down, Xpeng envisions these robots becoming common in both industry and even
50
households, but that might be in the 5–10 year horizon according to He Xiaopeng .
In summary, Xpeng’s deployment strategy for IRON is methodical and globally minded. They are
starting with what works now – using IRON as an engaging service robot in structured public spaces – and
avoiding what isn’t ready (hard manual labor and unsupervised home use). By partnering with
developers and industry and focusing on realistic timelines, Xpeng is setting IRON up to succeed where
others might over-promise. It’s a plan that balances ambition (worldwide humanoid robots at scale)
with practical caution (step-by-step validation in the field). This approach is drawing praise in tech circles
for being more realistic than some competitors’ hype 51
, and it could help Xpeng establish trust as a
leader in the humanoid robot space.
Xpeng IRON vs. Other Humanoid Robots
A global audience might wonder: How does Xpeng’s IRON compare to other humanoid robots out there,
like Tesla’s Optimus or Boston Dynamics’ Atlas? There are a few key points of comparison that
highlight Xpeng IRON’s unique position:
•
•
Origins and Experience: Xpeng emphasizes that it began its humanoid robot development earlier
than many competitors. Tesla’s Optimus was first unveiled in 2021, whereas Xpeng had already
been working on robotics (albeit quadrupeds initially) and debuted IRON’s first generation in
2024 5
. Xpeng’s Vice Chairman even remarked that Xpeng’s humanoid effort likely started
ahead of Tesla’s 52
. This head-start, plus talent and research from the Chinese robotics
ecosystem, has given IRON a rapid evolution. In contrast, Tesla’s Optimus is still in prototype
phase and primarily demonstrated doing simple factory tasks (carrying parts, watering plants) in
carefully staged videos. IRON, by comparison, has public demos walking independently on stage
and interacting with people – indicating a high level of polish in mobility.
Design Philosophy: Boston Dynamics’ Atlas is built for athletic prowess (flips, jumps) but is an
R&D project, not a commercial product, and it doesn’t resemble a human face or form closely.
Tesla’s Optimus has a more utilitarian design – a sleek machine without a human-like face or
skin, aimed at factory work. Xpeng IRON is distinctly more human-like in appearance than
these. With realistic proportions, a face display, and even the option to choose male/female looks,
Xpeng is prioritizing humanization. This is likely because Xpeng is targeting customer-facing
roles; they want people to feel comfortable approaching IRON. Tesla’s Optimus, conversely, is
pitched as a laborer (it looks like a robot, not a person, which might be fine for a warehouse). So,
7•
•
•
IRON might win hearts in public spaces while Optimus might find use in behind-the-scenes
automation – different niches emerging.
Technical Focus: Both Optimus and IRON share some technical concepts: they use vision-based
AI (no heavy lidar, to keep costs down), have five-fingered hands, and seek battery efficiency.
However, Xpeng IRON’s use of a solid-state battery is a notable differentiator – Tesla has not
indicated using such tech in Optimus yet. Solid-state batteries give IRON potentially longer
operation time and lower risk of fire, a big plus for a robot mingling with people 12
. Additionally,
IRON’s 82° of freedom is quite high; if Tesla’s Optimus has fewer degrees (Tesla hasn’t
publicly given a number, but it appears somewhat simpler in joints), IRON might achieve more
fluid motion. On the other hand, Tesla’s expertise in manufacturing and AI could allow Optimus
to carry heavier loads or integrate with Tesla’s vision network, but those details remain to be
seen. At the moment, IRON appears to have the edge in realism and articulation, while Optimus’
advantage could be tight integration with Tesla’s AI ecosystem and vehicles in the future.
Openness and Ecosystem: Xpeng is actively opening IRON to developers (with an SDK and
partnerships) 44
, whereas Tesla has thus far kept Optimus development mostly internal and
under wraps. For global adoption, Xpeng’s approach might spur a faster variety of applications.
It’s reminiscent of how Android (open to developers) grew faster in app diversity than a closed
system. Time will tell, but Xpeng’s collaborative approach could lead to IRON being adapted in
creative ways outside Xpeng’s direct plans, possibly making it more versatile in the long run.
Timeline and Use Cases: Interestingly, Tesla’s Elon Musk has claimed Optimus could be
produced at scale by 2026 and sees a vision of “millions” of humanoid robots transforming the
economy. Xpeng’s He Xiaopeng is more cautious – he also aims for mass production by 2026,
but doesn’t claim an immediate revolution. He predicts truly widespread use in factories is 3–5
years away and home use 5–10 years away 50
. Xpeng is focusing IRON on short-term achievable
roles (commercial guides, etc.) rather than promising a robot in every home next year. This may
mean Xpeng won’t overextend or underdeliver; instead, it can steadily improve IRON. In the race
of humanoid robots, being first to reliably do useful work might beat being first to simply ship
units. Xpeng’s realism could give it a credibility and trust advantage with businesses and
51
regulators around the world .
In summary, Xpeng IRON stands out for its lifelike design and balanced approach. It might not be alone
in the humanoid arena – Tesla, Xiaomi, UBTech, and others have their own projects – but IRON’s debut
showed a level of refinement that turned heads globally. As these robots develop, it’s likely we’ll see
differentiation: some aimed at public interaction (like IRON), others at heavy lifting, some open-platform
vs. closed. For anyone following the robotics space, Xpeng IRON is now a flagship example of the new
wave of humanoids: robots that look and act uncannily human, yet are grounded in practical use-cases
and near-term deployment.
Frequently Asked Questions about Xpeng IRON Humanoid Robot
The Xpeng IRON stands about 5 feet 10 inches (178 cm) tall and weighs roughly 154 pounds (70 kg)
6
. In other words, it’s the size of an average adult human, which helps it move through human
environments like doorways, stairs, and sidewalks. This human-like scale is intentional – it allows IRON to
use tools and spaces designed for people.
Xpeng IRON is built to be extremely human-like. It has a humanoid spine and bionic muscles that let it
bend and walk gracefully 9
. Its body is covered in flexible soft skin with embedded touch sensors, and
it even has a curved screen “face” that can show expressions 11
. Each hand has 22 joints for fine
finger movement 8 7
, and the entire robot has 82 degrees of freedom enabling very fluid motion .
8Uniquely, Xpeng plans to offer different body shapes and genders for IRON – meaning buyers could
choose a male- or female-presenting robot and various physiques in the future 22
. This level of
customization and anthropomorphic detail sets IRON apart from most other robots.
Currently, IRON is demonstrated to walk, talk, and interact with people in real time. It can carry out
21 33
tasks like answering questions, greeting customers, giving tours, and showcasing products.
Thanks to its dexterous hands, IRON can also perform simple chores or labor such as picking up objects,
opening doors, delivering items, or even folding clothes. Its strength and precision are sufficient for
light to moderate tasks (e.g. carrying a small parcel, using a touchscreen, tightening a screw) but it’s not
yet meant for heavy industrial work. Xpeng is initially deploying IRON as a service robot – so expect to
see it act as a receptionist, store guide, museum guide, security patrol, or similar roles where it assists
and engages with people. As its software expands (especially with the open SDK for developers), IRON’s
skillset will continue growing.
Xpeng is gearing up for mass production of IRON by end of 2026 47 48
. Throughout 2025–2026, they
are refining the robot and plan to start using IRON units in their own businesses by 2026. The first public
deployments will be in Xpeng’s showrooms and stores globally in 2026, where IRON will serve
customers and visitors 40
. Initially, Xpeng is not directly selling IRON to individual consumers;
instead, the focus is on commercial and enterprise use (where Xpeng can closely support and update the
robots). The reason is to ensure IRON is safe, reliable, and truly helpful before it enters homes. He
Xiaopeng (Xpeng’s CEO) indicated that using robots widely in homes might take another 5–10 years to
become reality 50
. So, if you’re an enthusiast hoping to buy an IRON robot as a personal helper, you
may have to wait a bit. However, businesses and developers will likely get access sooner – Xpeng is
inviting partners and offering an SDK to integrate new applications 44
. So, by 2026 you might encounter
IRON at a mall or airport, and if all goes well, broader availability could follow a couple of years after
mass production starts.
Both Xpeng IRON and Tesla Optimus are humanoid robots in development with similar goals of assisting
humans, but there are some differences in approach: - Design: Xpeng IRON is made to be very human-
like in look (with skin, facial expressions, etc.), whereas Tesla’s Optimus has a more mechanical
appearance (white/black frame, no human-like face). Xpeng even allows gendered appearances for IRON
23
, focusing on social interaction, while Tesla’s robot is more utilitarian in design. - Capabilities: Both
robots aim to walk on two legs and perform basic tasks. IRON has demonstrated an elegant walking gait
and interactive conversations publicly 35 21
, whereas Optimus demonstrations have been limited to
controlled tasks (like carrying boxes or watering plants in Tesla videos). Tesla’s Optimus might
eventually lift heavier weights due to Tesla’s focus on factory use, but Xpeng’s IRON currently shines in
lifelikeness and smooth movement. - Technology: Xpeng uses its own Turing AI chips and a unique
triple-model AI brain (VLT/VLA/VLM) for IRON 16
, emphasizing on-device intelligence. Tesla leverages
its Autopilot/FSD hardware and neural networks for Optimus, focusing on computer vision and neural net
planning similar to self-driving tech. Notably, Xpeng IRON uses a solid-state battery for power 12
, which
is cutting-edge and offers safety; Tesla hasn’t announced solid-state batteries in Optimus yet. - Strategy:
Xpeng is taking a cautious rollout – using IRON in its own stores and targeting specific service roles by
2026 53
. Tesla has famously bold ambitions, with Elon Musk suggesting Optimus could be produced in
high volume and eventually even be sold to consumers for personal use. However, Musk’s timelines are
often optimistic. Xpeng’s leadership has been more measured, suggesting that while both companies
target 2026 for initial mass production, truly ubiquitous use of humanoid robots (in factories or homes)
will likely happen later 50 44
. Another difference: Xpeng is opening IRON to global developers via SDK,
indicating a collaborative approach, whereas Tesla’s development is in-house.
9In essence, Xpeng IRON is designed as a socially adept, human-emulating robot for service
scenarios, and Xpeng is being realistic about its near-term uses. Tesla’s Optimus is envisioned as a
workforce robot for labor-intensive tasks (with a longer-term view of household chores as well). Both are
evolving rapidly, and it will be exciting to see how they progress. For now, if you meet a humanoid robot
in a public setting in the next year or two, it’s likely to be Xpeng’s IRON welcoming you, as Tesla’s
Optimus isn’t deployed in stores yet.
Conclusion
The Xpeng IRON humanoid robot represents a major leap forward in the integration of AI and robotics
into everyday life. With its lifelike appearance – complete with bionic muscles, flexible skin, and
expressive “face” – and its advanced AI “brain” that enables fluid walking and interactive
conversation, IRON blurs the line between science fiction and reality. Xpeng has charted a careful but
ambitious path: refining IRON’s technical capabilities (from its 82-DOF agility to safe solid-state power
7 12 47
), proving its value in service roles, and scaling up to mass production by 2026 . By focusing
on roles like guides, receptionists, and retail assistants, Xpeng is ensuring that IRON will solve real-world
problems – whether it’s greeting customers in multiple languages or detecting equipment issues on a
factory floor – rather than being just a lab curiosity.
For a global audience, Xpeng IRON also signals the rising prominence of international players in high-tech
robotics. It’s a symbol of how innovation is spanning continents: a Chinese-born robot that the
company plans to deploy in global markets as a friendly helper and high-tech ambassador 54
. It
embodies Xpeng’s transformation from an electric car maker into a broader “global embodied
42
intelligence” company pushing the frontier of what robots can do in our daily lives .
As we look to the future, the impact of Xpeng IRON could be far-reaching. If you walk into a shopping
center in the next couple of years, don’t be surprised if you’re approached by a polite, human-sized
robot offering assistance – that just might be an Xpeng IRON at work. Xpeng is investing today in the idea
that humanoid robots will soon work alongside humans in offices, stores, and public spaces, handling
tasks that are dull, dirty, or simply repetitive, and doing so with a personable touch.
The age of humanoid robots is on the horizon, and Xpeng’s IRON is one of the pioneers leading the
way. Whether it’s helping customers, gathering data to improve AI, or inspiring the public about
technological possibilities, IRON stands as a testament to how far robotics has advanced. Keep an eye
on this space – with Xpeng and others racing toward a new era of robotics, we may soon find that the line
between human and robot collaborators gets pleasantly blurred. The next time you visit an Xpeng
showroom or a tech-forward store, you might just be greeted by a friendly humanoid named IRON,
ready to assist and showcase the future. How will you interact with it? The answer to that question, and
many more, will unfold as Xpeng’s bold vision for the IRON robot becomes reality.
[Xpeng IRON is not just a robot, but a hint at how AI might physically manifest in our lives worldwide –
and that future is closer than ever.]
1 31 34 35
Xpeng's Iron humanoid robot looks so real that some suspect it hides a human inside -
CnEVPost
https://cnevpost.com/2025/11/06/xpengs-iron-humanoid-robot-looks-so-real/
2 3 8 10 29 30 44 47
Xpeng unveils next-gen Iron humanoid robot at 2025 AI Day - CnEVPost
https://cnevpost.com/2025/11/05/xpeng-unveils-next-gen-iron-humanoid-robot/
104 11 13 14 17 20 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 33 37 39 41 45 46
Xpeng Debuts 'Most Human-Like' Iron
Robot, Details VLT Brain and 2026 Production Goal | Humanoids Daily
goal
5 16 40 43 50 51 52 53 54
Xpeng AI Day: new AI model powering robots, robotaxis, and flying cars |
Electrek
https://electrek.co/2025/11/05/xpeng-ai-day-new-ai-model-powering-robots-robotaxis-and-flying-cars/
6 18 19 21 32
IRON: Xpeng's humanoid robot uses solid-state battery for long life
https://interestingengineering.com/innovation/humanoid-robot-powered-by-solid-state-battery
7 9 12 15 36 42 48 49
XPENG Shares Achievements in Physical AI Emergence: Unveils XPENG VLA
2.0, Robotaxi, Next-Gen IRON, and Flying Car
https://www.xpeng.com/pressroom/news/019a56f54fe99a2a0a8d8a0282e402b7
38
XPENG - Official Website | XPENG Motors – XPENG (Global)
https://www.xpeng.com/news/019301d2135392fa562d8a0282200016
11